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Ots 24 24053oac Oacfinal
Ots 24 24053oac Oacfinal
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objectives
The objectives of the study were to identify and understand the information requirements for
various departments namely production, design, marketing, education & health (E&H) and
buildings & grounds (B&G); to analyze the identified information for meaningful decision
making; to identify and establish a system of reporting and information sharing amongst the
departments.
1.3 Methodology
The methodology adopted was primarily descriptive in design.
2. THE RATIONALE
MIS: An integrated man-machine system that provides information to support the planning
and control functions of managers in an organisation. Any information system to qualify as a
MIS must satisfy the following characteristics namely,
• It should subserve managerial functions.
• It should collect information systematically and routinely.
• It should support planning and control decisions.
• It should include files, hardware, software, and operations research models.
Strictly speaking, the system designed for Kala Raksha Trust satisfies only the first three
conditions enumerated above- that too more in letter than in spirit. Also, the information
system does not include within its ambit the administrative and accounts department.
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Therefore, the information system designed bears a close resemblance to what is traditionally
understood as a management information system.
The Organisation: Kala Raksha (KR) is a grass-roots level social enterprise registered as a
trust and society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and Public Trust Act 1950,
respectively, in Bhuj, Kutch on 26 August 1993. It has adopted a model of development
through handicrafts consisting of two interlinked parts: preservation and presentation of
traditional arts and income generation via contemporary work which in turn is achieved by
encouraging innovation within traditional crafts. In the recent past it has undertaken
administering of a preventive health care and basic education program for its target group of
women artisans.
The Rationale: Over its ten years of existence KR has grown in every aspect. Its complexity
in terms of spatial differentiation (geographically widely dispersed artisan groups), horizontal
differentiation (specialization of labour and consequent creation of departments) vertical
differentiation (top, middle and lower levels of management) has increased, decision taking is
being increasingly decentralized, formalization in terms of job descriptions and procedural
rules and policies are being laid down and above all the scale of operations in terms of
volumes manufactured and artisans associated has increased manifold. The number of
suppliers of raw materials, other agents engaged in processing and final buyers and channels
of sales have increased since its humble beginnings.
Thus an informal information system - which served so well when complexity and
formalization was low, centralization high, volumes were low and it had lesser players to
contend with in the value chain - was gradually being felt to be grossly inadequate.
With piling inventory, declining sales, delay in honouring orders and other inefficiencies in
operations a need for formal and systematic information systems was felt. Also, being a
development organisation it is critically dependent on donors and resource providers to
support its operations who more often than not are demanding in terms of performance
appraisal and fund utilization reports.
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It was in the light of changed circumstances and a growing realization that an efficacious
information system was needed, that the management sought the development and
implementation of a MIS.
This following section of the report begins with an analysis of the KR’s organisational
structure and operations in various departments. It would be followed by department wise
analysis of the processes and transactions involved; reports to be generated to aid control,
supervision. A detailed delineation of the format of manual and computer records to be
maintained, frequency of recording and reporting, and system of supervision of the process of
regular recording and sharing of information through various media like meetings and notice
boards follows. The report concludes with a summary of actions taken and recommendations.
3. ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
Kala Raksha has a functional organisational structure with design, marketing, and
administrative and accounts being one-man departments. It is a small organisation with 35-40
employees at any point in time. A schematic representation of its structure is presented on the
following page.
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Figure 1: Organisation Structure of Kala Raksha Trust
Board Of Trustees
Peon
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4. MAJOR FINDINGS
The following were the findings that were observed across all departments.
• In all the departments the format of recorded information was informal and non-
standard which made retrieval, collation, and analysis of information extremely
difficult.
• Recording of information was irregular in some departments.
• There was a lack of awareness about the methods of data collation, aggregation and
analysis and how it could be used for forecasting, monitoring and exercising control
over operations.
• Managers of the various departments lacked proficiency in the use of computers
applications. Similarly, field workers were generally averse to systematically
recording information. These two factors rendered earlier attempts at standardizing
information systems of production and marketing departments, unsuccessful.
5. INFERENCE
Based on the analysis of its operations and the organization structure it was concluded that:
There exists an acute need for a simple and user-friendly man-machine information system. A
system designed after factoring in the current skill-sets and proficiency with computers of the
end users is essential for the information system to be effective.
Actions Taken: Following the above analysis the actions department wise actions taken can
be summarized as follows.
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Recommendations: A monitoring system comprising daily inspection of records for data
entry, fortnightly submission of reports in the Monday-meetings; quarterly, half-yearly and
yearly submission of summary and analytical computer generated reports in review and
evaluation meetings was suggested.
This plan is being proposed following discussions with various department managers
regarding their duties/responsibilities, the data currently recorded by them and the form in
which it is recorded.
Department-wise proposals follow below. It includes the records and their formats to be
maintained manually; the data to be transferred on to the computer and the reports that can be
generated thereof. Also included is a checklist of "to do" items for each department every
week.
3. Canteen/Rations Register
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Sl.no Date Description Amount From Cash/Credit Signa
Whom ture
Similarly, at the end of the month a summary statement for each entity can be prepared.
Cash Credit Total
Buyer1
Buyer2
Few pages must be set aside in the canteen's expenditure diary to record the date and quantity
of receipt of LPG cylinder and mineral water bottles separately.
S.No. Date Item Quantity Rate Amount
The categories will be pest/ plant/ repairs and maintenance/ purchase/ solar/ wages (mason,
carpenter, electrician)/ bills (water, electricity, telephone).
5. Daily record of work done by both B&G manager and B&G assistant.
Time Work
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Movement of
vehicle owned
by KRT, fuel
consumption
Vehicle
Maintenance
Vehicle Hired
** B & G
Expense
Canteen Table
Expenses
Other
Expenses
Daily log of
work done by
manager and
peon
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On the computer: Every week the B&G manger should post into the computer the following:
Vehicle fuel consumption expenditure
Vehicle maintenance expenditure
Vehicle fare
Canteen -expenses, cylinder & mineral water bottles consumed
Expenses incurred by B&G manager apart from the above mentioned expenses
** Also for whereabouts of vehicle the B&G manager should be informed everyday and
those in need of the vehicle should contact him. The B&G manager should act as a hub of
information regarding the vehicle and its whereabouts.
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donors and annual budget preparation for its operations. Given below is format of records to
be maintained manually and on the computer (refer to Figure 3).
Consolidated village
Village wise weekly exam performance
syllabus to be covered
** Consolidated camp
Village wise camps workshop list &
organized, related details
resource persons, etc
** Medicine -
Medicine received by purchase and
each village distribution
Notice board –
activities of the week,
etc
Fortnightly, monthly
newsletter
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Manual: In this department records would have to be maintained both at the village levels
and at the centre in Sumrasar.
Village Level:
1. Attendance register
First 4-5 pages contain list of students
Name Date Of Joining Date Of Leaving Duration
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• If villagers are treated for any ailment in the camp.
Head Teacher
1. Annual/quarterly and monthly plan of syllabus to be covered. (Basic education and health)
2. Exam performance
Health Coordinator
3. Medicine purchased and distributed
4. Camps organized resource persons, beneficiaries, expenses etc.
Computer: Given below is a list of tables and their contents. The education coordinator
should ensure that these details are entered into the tables regularly.
• Camp workshop list (camp/workshop code, date, village, resource person 1,2,3,
ailment/disease, no of beneficiaries, expenses incurred, remarks)
• Camp workshop Details (camp/workshop code, beneficiary code, remarks)
• Village weekly attendance (village code, village name, date, number of students,
• Village exam details (exam code, exam level, exam date, maximum marks, and
minimum marks to pass)
• Village exam performance (exam code, artisan code, exam performance, status-
pass/fail)
• Education & Health Expense (date, category of expense, quantity, rate, amount)
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Periodic Meetings Check List: In the weekly meeting the head teacher shall collect/disburse
the following information from the individual villages
• daily attendance report and causes of fall in attendance if any
• targets achieved, method of delivery of syllabus
• any special happening in their village
• set targets for the following week
• convey any other information that needs to be passed on to the villagers from other
department (like pending orders etc.)
*** The education department could play a role in fostering a sense of community amongst
artisans of different villages and also getting them involved with KR activities by bringing
out a fortnightly (later on weekly) pamphlet in local language. It would contain information
on newsworthy happenings in different villages, quality and quantity of work in different
villages, production targets and their achievement etc. The pamphlet could serve as a
medium of creative "literary" outlet, information of new designs being created by different
artisans (this could be an incentive to improve productivity); toppers in exams, educating
about who the ultimate buyers are; what activities the trust is currently engaged in etc. The
idea on first impression may sound ambitious or even foolhardy but I firmly believe it is a
potent one.
*** The notice board could be used as another medium for dissemination of information and
for other similar purposes.
7.3 Design
The design coordinator holds a key position in Kala Raksha’s operations. He is entrusted with
the responsibility of overseeing the process of new design creations by means of creation of
design workshops, exposure to past documented traditions; maintaining samples of new
designs produced; determining the design, color combination and fabric that would be used in
a product, quality control of final products and above all costing of the final products. He is
also responsible for identifying new suppliers of raw materials.
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The design coordinator shall maintain the following documents (refer to Figure 4).
Figure 4: DESIGN
(Schematic diagram of manual and computer records)
Stock of embroidered
yet unstitched pieces
List of samples of
finished products
** Sample specifications
in terms of quantity and variety
Sample specifications of raw material required
Computer: The design coordinator has to maintain the following tables on the computer
namely,
• Sample specifications
• Cost of raw material, processing (dry-cleaning, binding) and overhead to be charged.
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• Cost sheet
• Sample list
• Summary
o work-wise ( i.e. style of embroidery)
o category wise ( by product
• Addition/deletions between two points in time.
Periodic meeting:
The design coordinator should keep production manager informed of the production targets,
the patterns and designs required in consultation with the marketing manager.
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Challan – raw material ** List of suppliers,
issued, finished good contact details etc
issued
Computer: To begin with the tables enlisted below should also be maintained in registers
manually to guard against any eventuality because the information is critical to its operations.
• List of suppliers
• Raw material stock
• Finished goods stock
• Entry and exit of raw materials
• Entry and exit of finished goods
• Wages- artisans and tailors
• Raw material ordered
• Raw material received
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• Period wise and supplier wise raw material ordered/received
• Period wise and village wise wage list
• Period wise and tailor wise wage list
• Periodic inventory position
Periodic meeting: The periodic meetings shall discuss issues like progress on production
plan, targets achieved, wages reports, performance of artisans (whether orders completed on
time or delayed and adherence to quality standards etc) and all issues impacting production.
7.5 Marketing
The marketing department is responsible for exploring new channels of selling products and
building a loyal base of customers, keeping a tab on emerging trends in fashion, changing
tastes and needs of customers, liaison with and relationship building with customers both
individuals and institutions either in India or oversees and sales at the shop at the main centre
Invoicing and follow-up on payments for orders sent is the responsibility of the marketing
manager.
The marketing manager should maintain the following records (refer to Figure 6).
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Figure 6: MARKETING
(Schematic diagram of manual and computer records)
Consumption of
finished goods by ** Finished goods
various channels order received
** Invoicing of sales
by various channels
Shop Sales
** Finished goods
sales through shop at
centre
Exhibition details-
correspondence, ** Exhibitions- stocks
venue logistics, taken, sold, returned
stock, sales
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Weekly meeting: The marketing manger has a critical role to play in the weekly meetings
wherein coordination is sought to be achieved in the working of design, production and
marketing departments. The issues discussed in each of these meetings could be reports and
analytical inputs from these departments, follow-up on pending orders and convey new
orders in consultation with design coordinator and set targets & review them for the period
before the next review. These meetings should be used to convey to design coordinator
customer requirements, market trends (orders/exhibitions etc).
The synchronized functioning of the design, production and marketing are critical to the
uninterrupted, timely and efficient production. There is a lot of scope of improvement in this
area. More frequent meetings between these three-may be twice a week would definitely
enhance efficiency.
** Village
Summary
** Village wise
artisans’ list
** Village wise
list of
functionaries
** Money
transactions
** Employee list
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* The administrative department has not been included in the design of this system.
Therefore, records related to other departments, to the extent necessary for the
current system to work, have been shown here.
Reports Generated: The reports generated for this department include the following
• Monthly and any other periodicity of wages report for
o Artisans
o Tailors
o Employees
• Village wise artisan list
Periodic Meeting: The issues that the administrative and accounts manager should discuss in
the meetings are follow-up on payments to suppliers and from buyers, wages due to artisans,
tailors, employees and reimbursement of other expenses to artisans for travel to main centre
to attend weekly meetings.
8. MONITORING SYSTEM
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It is suggested the a monitoring system comprising daily inspection of records for data entry,
fortnightly submission of reports in the Monday-meetings; quarterly, half-yearly and yearly
submission of summary and analytical computer generated reports in review and evaluation
meetings be strictly followed.
9.CONCLUSION
on the information system marks a departure from the hitherto informal systems of data
recording and information sharing. The success of this system calls for a change in attitude
towards information management. The onus lies with the top management. In the absence of
regular supervision by top management, non-regular data entry in registers and the computer
system as suggested above may render the management information system ineffective.
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APPENDIX – A
List of Tables & Queries
1. TABLES
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ExpenseRate Currency 8
ExpenseNotes Text 50
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FgCodeKR Text 35
FgCategory Text 50
FgWork Text 50
FgFabric Text 50
FgSize Text 50
FgInitialStock Integer 2
FgNotes Text 50
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FgRate Currency 8
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RmConsumptionCode Text 50
RmDateConsumed Date/Time 8
RmCode Text 50
RmQtyConsumed Integer 2
RmConsumedBy Text 50
RmConsumptionType Yes/No 1
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Table22: Raw Material Receipt
Name Type Size
RmReceiptCode Text 10
RmReceiptDate Date/Time 8
RmSupplier Text 10
RmTotalBillAmount Currency 8
RmAmountPaid Currency 8
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SampleDrycleaning Currency 8
SampleBinding Currency 8
SampleOthers Currency 8
Table27: Sample Specifications
Name Type Size
SampleCode Text 10
SampleProductCode(KR) Text 35
SampleQuantity Byte 1
SampleCategory Text 50
SampleWork Text 50
SampleSize Text 15
SampleColour Text 50
SampleFabricMain Text 50
SampleFabricMainQty Single 4
SampleFabricLining Text 50
SampleFabricLiningQty Single 4
SampleFabricInterlining Text 50
SampleFabricInterliningQty Single 4
SampleFabricOther Text 50
SampleFabricOtherQty Single 4
SampleThreadEmbroidery Text 50
SampleThreadEmbroideryQty Single 4
SampleZippers Text 50
SampleZippersQty Single 4
SampleBeads Text 50
SampleBeadsQty Single 4
SampleButtons Text 50
SampleButtonsQty Byte 1
SampleOthers1 Text 50
SampleOthers1Qty Single 4
SampleOthers2 Text 50
SampleOthers2Qty Single 4
SampleNotes Text 255
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TailorProductStitchingCutting Text 50
TailorProductRate Currency 8
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ArtisanSupervisorSalary Currency 8
ArtisanTeacherName Text 50
ArtisanTeacherSalary Currency 8
ArtisanHealthworkerName Text 50
ArtisanHealthworkerSalary Currency 8
VillageEmployeesRemarks Text 255
2. QUERY
SQL
SELECT DISTINCTROW [Buildings & Grounds Expense].BgExpenseCategory,
[Buildings & Grounds Expense].BgExpenseDescription, Sum([Buildings & Grounds
Expense].BgExpenseAmount) AS [Sum Of BgExpenseAmount], Count(*) AS [Count Of
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Buildings & Grounds Expense] FROM [Buildings & Grounds Expense] GROUP BY
[Buildings & Grounds Expense].BgExpenseCategory, [Buildings & Grounds
Expense].BgExpenseDescription
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